U.S. patent application number 15/908855 was filed with the patent office on 2018-09-06 for central passenger air bag.
The applicant listed for this patent is TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.. Invention is credited to Kurt F. Fischer, Douglas M. Gould, Alexandra E. Schroeder.
Application Number | 20180251096 15/908855 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63357575 |
Filed Date | 2018-09-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180251096 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fischer; Kurt F. ; et
al. |
September 6, 2018 |
CENTRAL PASSENGER AIR BAG
Abstract
A vehicle occupant safety system helps protect front seat
occupants of a vehicle in the event of a collision that results in
oblique forward occupant movement. The safety system includes a
frontal air bag inflatable between on instrument panel end the
front seat vehicle occupant, and a central air bag inflatable
adjacent and inboard of the frontal air bag. The frontal air bag
can be configured and positioned to receive and cushion the vehicle
occupant moving in an oblique direction in the vehicle as the
result of a vehicle collision. The central air bag can be
configured and positioned to support an inboard portion of the
frontal airbag against flattening out in response to receiving the
obliquely moving occupant, and to engage the obliquely moving
occupant's head and resist rotation of the vehicle occupant's head
resulting from moving obliquely into engagement with the frontal
air bag.
Inventors: |
Fischer; Kurt F.;
(Rochester, MI) ; Gould; Douglas M.; (Lake Orion,
MI) ; Schroeder; Alexandra E.; (Lenox, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. |
Washington |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
63357575 |
Appl. No.: |
15/908855 |
Filed: |
March 1, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62465187 |
Mar 1, 2017 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 21/205 20130101;
B60R 2021/0009 20130101; B60R 21/203 20130101; B60R 2021/0048
20130101; B60R 21/233 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60R 21/233 20060101
B60R021/233; B60R 21/205 20060101 B60R021/205; B60R 21/203 20060101
B60R021/203 |
Claims
1. A vehicle occupant safety system for helping to protect front
seat occupants of a vehicle in the event of a collision that
results in oblique forward occupant movement, comprising: a frontal
air bag inflatable between an instrument panel and the front seat
vehicle occupant; and a central air bag inflatable adjacent and
inboard of the frontal air bag; wherein the frontal air bag is
configured and positioned to receive and cushion the vehicle
occupant moving in an oblique direction in the vehicle as the
result of a vehicle collision, and wherein the central air bag is
configured and positioned to support an inboard portion of the
frontal airbag against flattening out in response to receiving the
obliquely moving occupant, and to engage the obliquely moving
occupant's head and resist rotation of the vehicle occupant's head
resulting from moving obliquely into engagement with the frontal
air bag.
2. The safety system recited in claim 1, wherein the central air
bag is also configured to receive and absorb impact energy of the
obliquely moving occupant.
3. The safety system recited in claim 1, wherein the central air
bag is configured to deploy in a direction that is rearward and
outboard in the vehicle so as to engage and support the frontal air
bag.
4. The safety system recited in claim 1, wherein the central air
bag is configured to extend rearward of the frontal air bag so
that, as the obliquely moving occupant penetrates the frontal air
bag, portions of the frontal air bag displaced by the penetrating
occupant cause the central air bag to arc around the side of the
obliquely moving occupant's head to provide support for the head
that acts against rotation.
5. The safety system recited in claim 1, wherein the central air
bag when engaging the frontal air bag provides inboard support for
the frontal air bag that resists collapse of the frontal air bag in
response to receiving the obliquely moving occupant.
6. The safety system recited in claim 5, wherein in response to
inboard support being overcome and the frontal air bag collapsing
in response to receiving the obliquely moving occupant's head, the
central air bag is configured to arc toward the back of the
occupant's bead and counteract the tendency for the occupant's head
to rotate.
7. The safety system recited in claim 1, wherein the central air
bag is a pillow shaped bag having an elongated configuration with a
longitudinal axis that extends obliquely relative to the
longitudinal vehicle axis in a direction that is rearward and
outboard of the vehicle.
8. The safety system recited in claim 1, wherein the central air
bag helps support the occupant's head against roiling as a result
of moving obliquely into engagement with the frontal air bag.
9. The safety system recited in claim 1, wherein the frontal air
bag is an instrument panel mounted passenger frontal air bag and
the central air bag is mounted to the instrument panel inboard of
the frontal air bag, the central air being configured to deploy
rearward and outboard toward the passenger side of the vehicle into
engagement with the passenger frontal air bag.
10. The safety system recited in claim 9, further comprising a
steering wheel mounted driver frontal air bag, wherein the central
air bag is also configured to have a portion inflatable adjacent an
inboard portion of the driver frontal air bag to receive and
cushion driver side occupant moving obliquely inboard as the result
of a vehicle collision.
11. The safety system recited in claim 10, wherein the central air
bag is configured to engage the driver frontal air bag.
12. The safety system recited in claim 10, wherein the central air
bag is configured to reach at least one of the instrument panel and
a vehicle steering column.
13. The safety system recited in claim 10, wherein the central air
bag is configured to extend into contact with the passenger frontal
air bag so that the passenger frontal air bag serves as a reaction
surface for the central air bag when receiving a driver side
occupant moving obliquely inboard into engagement with the central
air bag.
14. The safety system recited in claim 13, wherein the central air
bag is configured to extend into contact with the instrument panel
so that the instrument panel serves as a reaction surface for the
central air bag when receiving a driver side occupant moving
obliquely inboard into engagement with the central air bag.
15. The safety system recited in claim 1, wherein the central air
bag is configured to be mounted to the instrument panel, the
steering column, or to other vehicle structure in the vicinity of
the instrument panel.
16. A vehicle occupant safety system for helping to protect front
seat occupants of a vehicle in the event of a collision that
results in oblique forward occupant movement, comprising: a
passenger frontal air bag inflatable between an instrument panel
and the front seat passenger side vehicle occupant; and a central
air bag positioned inboard of the passenger frontal air bag and
inflatable rearward and outboard in the vehicle into engagement
with the passenger frontal air bag; wherein the central air bag
supports an inboard portion of the passenger frontal air bag, using
the instrument panel as a reaction surface, against flattening out
in response to receiving an obliquely moving occupant.
17. The safety system recited in claim 18, wherein the central air
bag engages the obliquely moving occupant's head and resists
rotation of the vehicle occupant's head resulting from moving
obliquely into engagement with the frontal air bag.
18. The safety system recited in claim 17, wherein the central air
bag is configured to extend rearward of the passenger frontal air
bag so that, as the obliquely moving occupant penetrates the
passenger frontal air bag, portions of the frontal air bag
displaced by the penetrating occupant cause the central air bag to
are around the side of the obliquely moving occupant's head to
provide support for the head that acts against rotation.
19. The safety system recited in claim 16, wherein the central air
bag is a pillow shaped bag having an elongated configuration with a
longitudinal axis that extends rearward and outboard of the
vehicle.
20. The safely system recited in claim 18, further comprising a
steering wheel mounted driver frontal air bag, wherein the central
air bag is also configured to have a portion inflatable adjacent an
inboard portion of the driver frontal air bag to receive and
cushion driver side occupant moving obliquely inboard as the result
of a vehicle collision.
21. The safety system recited in claim 20, wherein the central air
bag is configured to engage the driver frontal air bag.
22. The safety system recited in claim 20, wherein the central air
bag is configured to extend into contact with the passenger frontal
air bag so that the passenger frontal air bag serves as a reaction
surface for the central air bag when receiving a driver side
occupant moving obliquely inboard into engagement with the central
air bag.
23. A vehicle occupant safety system for helping to protect front
seat occupants of a vehicle in the event of a collision that
results in oblique forward occupant movement, comprising: a driver
frontal air bag inflatable from a vehicle steering wheel between an
instrument panel of the vehicle and a driver side front seat
occupant of the vehicle; a passenger frontal air bag inflatable
from the instrument panel between the instrument panel and a
passenger side front seat occupant of the vehicle; and a central
air bag positioned between the driver frontal air bag and passenger
frontal air bag and being inflatable away from the instrument panel
rearward and outboard toward the passenger side of the vehicle, the
central air bag when inflated engaging the passenger frontal air
bag and having portions adjacent or engaging the driver frontal air
bag.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/465,187, which was filed on 1 Mar. 2017.
BACKGROUND
[0002] It is known to provide an inflatable vehicle occupant
protection device, such as an air bag, for helping to protect an
occupant of a vehicle. One particular type of air bag is a frontal
air bag inflatable between an occupant of a front seat of the
vehicle and an instrument panel of the vehicle. Such air bags may
be driver air bags or passenger air bags. When inflated, the driver
and passenger air bags help protect the occupant from impacts with
parts of the vehicle such as the instrument panel and/or a steering
wheel of the vehicle.
[0003] Passenger air bags are typically stored in a deflated
condition in a housing that is mounted to the vehicle instrument
panel. An air bag door is connectable with the housing and/or
instrument panel to help enclose and conceal the air bag in a
stored condition. Upon deployment of the passenger air bag, the air
bag door opens to permit the air bag to move to an inflated
condition. The air bag door opens as a result of forces exerted on
the door by the inflating air bag.
[0004] Driver air bags are typically stored in a deflated condition
in a housing that is mounted on the vehicle steering wheel. An air
bag cover is connectable with the housing and/or steering wheel to
help enclose and conceal the air bag in a stored condition. Upon
deployment of the driver air bag, the air bag cover opens to permit
the air bag to move to an inflated condition. The air bag cover
opens as a result of forces exerted on the cover by the inflating
driver air bag.
[0005] Referring to FIG. 1, a known vehicle occupant protection
system 200 can include a steering wheel mounted driver frontal air
bag 202 and an instrument panel mounted passenger frontal air bag
204. When the vehicle 206 is involved in oblique or small overlap
crashes, the passenger side occupant, whose head is indicated
generally at 208, tends to move toward the passenger frontal air
bag 204 at an angle, indicated generally by the arrow 210. When the
occupant's head engages the air bag 204, as shown at 208', the head
can tend to roll off inboard, as indicated generally by the arrow
212, thus incurring a significant amount of head rotation, which
can be detrimental.
SUMMARY
[0006] A vehicle occupant safety system helps protect front seat
occupants of a vehicle in the event of a collision that results in
oblique forward occupant movement. According to one aspect, the
safety system includes a frontal air bag inflatable between an
instrument panel and the front seat vehicle occupant, and a central
air bag inflatable adjacent and inboard of the frontal air bag. The
frontal air bag can be configured and positioned to receive and
cushion the vehicle occupant moving in an oblique direction in the
vehicle as the result of a vehicle collision. The central air bag
can be configured and positioned to support an inboard portion of
the frontal airbag against flattening cut in response to receiving
the obliquely moving occupant, and to engage the obliquely moving
occupant's head and resist rotation of the vehicle occupant's head
resulting from moving obliquely into engagement with the frontal
air bag.
[0007] According to another aspect, alone or in combination with
any other aspect, the central air bag can also configured to
receive and absorb impact energy of the obliquely moving
occupant.
[0008] According to another aspect, alone or in combination with
any other aspect, the central air bag can be configured to deploy
in a direction that is rearward and outboard in the vehicle so as
to engage and support the frontal air bag.
[0009] According to another aspect, alone or in combination with
any other aspect, the central air bag can be configured to extend
rearward of the frontal air bag so that, as the obliquely moving
occupant penetrates the frontal air bag. Portions of the frontal
air bag displaced by the penetrating occupant can cause the central
air bag to arc around the side of the obliquely moving occupant's
head to provide support for the head that acts against
rotation.
[0010] According to another aspect, alone or in combination with
any other aspect, the central air bag when engaging the frontal air
bag can provide inboard support for the frontal air bag that
resists collapse of the frontal air bag in response to receiving
the obliquely moving occupant.
[0011] According to another aspect, alone or in combination with
any other aspect, in response to inboard support being overcome and
the frontal air bag collapsing in response to receiving the
obliquely moving occupant's bead, the central air bag can be
configured to arc toward the back of the occupant's head and
counteract the tendency for the occupant's head to rotate.
[0012] According to another aspect, alone or in combination with
any other aspect, the central air bag can be a pillow shaped bag
having an elongated configuration with a longitudinal axis that
extends obliquely relative to the longitudinal vehicle axis in a
direction that is rearward and outboard of the vehicle.
[0013] According to another aspect, alone or in combination with
any other aspect, the central air bag can help support the
occupant's head against rolling as a result of moving obliquely
into engagement with the frontal air bag.
[0014] According to another aspect, alone or in combination with
any other aspect, the frontal air bag can be an instrument panel
mounted passenger frontal air bag and the central air bag is
mounted to the instrument panel inboard of the frontal air bag. The
central air being can be configured to deploy rearward and outboard
toward the passenger side of the vehicle into engagement with the
passenger frontal air bag.
[0015] According to another aspect, alone or in combination with
any other aspect, the safety system can include a steering wheel
mounted driver frontal air bag. The central air bag can also be
configured to have a portion inflatable adjacent an inboard portion
of the driver frontal air bag to receive and cushion driver side
occupant moving obliquely inboard as the result of a vehicle
collision.
[0016] According, to another aspect, alone or in combination with
any other aspect, the central air bag can be configured to engage
the driver frontal air bag.
[0017] According to another aspect, alone or in combination with
any other aspect, the central air bag can be configured to reach at
least one of the instrument panel and a vehicle steering
column.
[0018] According to another aspect, alone or in combination with
any other aspect, the central air bag can be configured to extend
into contact with the passenger frontal air bag so that the
passenger frontal air bag serves as a reaction surface for the
central air bag when receiving a driver side occupant moving
obliquely inboard into engagement with the central air bag.
[0019] According to another aspect, alone or in combination with
any other aspect, the central air bag can be configured to extend
into contact with the instrument panel so that the instrument panel
serves as a reaction surface for the central air bag when receiving
a driver side occupant moving obliquely inboard into engagement
with the central air bag.
[0020] According to another aspect, alone or in combination with
any other aspect, the central air bag can be configured to be
mounted to the instrument panel, the steering column, or to other
vehicle structure in the vicinity of the instrument panel.
[0021] According to another aspect, the safety system can include a
passenger frontal air bag inflatable between an instrument panel
and the front seat passenger side vehicle occupant, and a central
air bag positioned inboard of the passenger frontal air bag and
inflatable rearward and outboard in the vehicle into engagement
with the passenger frontal air bag. The central air bag can support
an inboard portion of the passenger frontal air bag, using the
instrument panel as a reaction surface, against flattening out in
response to receiving an obliquely moving occupant.
[0022] According to another aspect, alone or in combination with
any other aspect, the central air bag can engage the obliquely
moving occupant's head and resists rotation of the vehicle
occupant's head resulting from moving obliquely into engagement
with the frontal air bag.
[0023] According to another aspect, alone or in combination with
any other aspect, the central air bag can be configured to extend
rearward of the passenger frontal air bag so that, as the obliquely
moving occupant penetrates the passenger frontal air bag, portions
of the frontal air bag displaced by the penetrating occupant cause
the central air bag to arc around the side of the obliquely moving
occupant's head to provide support for the head that acts against
rotation.
[0024] According to another aspect, alone or in combination with
any other aspect, the central air bag can be a pillow shaped bag
having an elongated configuration with a longitudinal axis that
extends rearward and outboard of the vehicle.
[0025] According to another aspect, alone or in combination with
any other aspect, the safety system can also include a steering
wheel mounted driver frontal air bag. The central air bag can also
be configured to have a portion inflatable adjacent an inboard
portion of the driver frontal air bag to receive and cushion driver
side occupant moving obliquely inboard as the result of a vehicle
collision.
[0026] According to another aspect, alone or in combination with
any other aspect, the central air bag can be configured to engage
the driver frontal air bag.
[0027] According to another aspect, alone or in combination with
any other aspect, the central air bag can be is configured to
extend into contact with the passenger frontal air bag so that the
passenger frontal air bag serves as a reaction surface for the
central air bag when receiving a driver side occupant moving
obliquely inboard into engagement with the central air bag.
[0028] According to another aspect, the safety system can include a
driver frontal air bag inflatable from a vehicle steering wheel
between an instrument panel of the vehicle and a driver side front
seat occupant of the vehicle. The safety system can also include a
passenger frontal air bag inflatable from the instrument panel
between the instrument panel and a passenger side front seat
occupant of the vehicle. The safety system can also include a
central air bag positioned between the driver frontal air bag and
passenger frontal air bag and being inflatable away from the
instrument panel rearward and outboard toward the passenger side of
the vehicle. The central air bag when inflated can engage the
passenger frontal air bag and having portions adjacent or engaging
the driver frontal air bag.
DRAWINGS
[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration depicting a known vehicle
occupant protection system.
[0030] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration depicting a vehicle
occupant protection system including a central airbag in a first
condition.
[0031] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration depicting a vehicle
occupant protection system including a central airbag in a second
condition.
[0032] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration depleting a vehicle
occupant protection system including a central airbag in a third
condition.
DESCRIPTION
[0033] Referring to FIG. 2, a system 10 for helping to protect one
or more occupants 14 of driver side 52 or passenger side 54 of a
vehicle 12 includes inflatable vehicle occupant protection devices
in the form of air bags. The air bags include a steering wheel
mounted driver frontal air bag 20, an instrument panel mounted
passenger frontal air bag 30, and an instrument panel mounted
central air bag 40. Each of these air bags 20, 30, 40 can be part
of an air bag module that includes an inflator and a housing. Each
air bag 20, 30, 40 has a stored condition in which the air bag is
folded and placed in the housing. The module including the driver
air bag 20 is mounted to the steering wheel 50. The modules
including the passenger air bag 30 and the central air bag 40 are
mounted to or within the dash or instrument panel 60 of the vehicle
12.
[0034] The inflators associated with the air bags 20, 30, 40 are
actuatable to provide inflation fluid to an inflatable volume of
the air bag to deploy the air bag to the inflated condition. The
inflator may be of any known type, such as stored gas, solid
propellant, augmented, or hybrid. The system 10 includes one or
more sensors for sensing an event for which inflation of the air
bag is desired, such as a collision, and a controller for
controlling operation of the inflators. The inflators are
operatively connected to the controller via lead wires.
[0035] The air bags 20, 30, 40 can be constructed of any suitable
material, such as nylon (e.g., woven nylon 6-6 yarns), and may be
constructed in any suitable manner. For example, the air bag may
include one or more pieces or panels of material. If more than one
piece or panel is used, the pieces or panels may be interconnected
by known means, such as stitching, ultrasonic welding, heat
bonding, or adhesives, to form the air bag. The air bag may be
uncoated, coated with a material, such as a gas impermeable
urethane, or laminated with a material, such as a gas impermeable
film. The air bag thus may have a gas-tight or substantially
gas-tight construction. Those skilled in the art will appreciate
that alternative materials, such as polyester yarn, and
alternatives coatings, such as silicone, may also be used to
construct the air bag.
[0036] Upon sensing the occurrence of an event for which inflation
of the air bag is desired, such as a vehicle collision, the
controller provides signals to the inflators via the lead wires.
Upon receiving the signals from the controller, the inflators are
actuated and provide inflation fluid to the inflatable volume of
the air bags 20, 30, 40 in a known manner. The inflating air bags
exert a force on their module closures (e.g., housings/doors) which
places the modules in an opened condition. The air bags 20, 30, 40
inflate from their respective housings to the deployed conditions
indicated generally in FIG. 2. The air bags 20, 30, 40, while
inflated, help protect the vehicle occupant from impacts with parts
of the vehicle, such as the instrument panel 60 and/or steering
wheel 50.
[0037] The air bags 20, 30, 40, when deployed in response to an
event for which occupant protection is desired, help protect the
occupant by helping to absorb the force of impacts placed on the
air bag by the occupants.
[0038] In certain vehicle crash events, such as oblique or small
overlap crashes, occupants 14 can move in the vehicle 12 in a
forward direction, indicated generally by arrow A in FIGS. 2 and 3,
that is oblique with respect to the vehicle. By "oblique" with
respect to the vehicle 12, it is meant that the occupant moves
forward in a direction that is neither parallel nor perpendicular
to the longitudinal axis 18 of the vehicle. Because the driver and
passenger frontal air bags 20, 30 are arranged with their
respective central axes 22, 32 parallel to the vehicle axis 18, and
their respective lateral axes 24, 34 perpendicular to their central
axes and the vehicle axis, this occupant movement is also oblique
to the respective air bag axes for each occupant. Left unchecked,
this oblique movement can result in the occupant's head rolling and
incurring a significant amount of head rotation (see FIG. 1,
described above).
[0039] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, according to one aspect, the
central air bag 40 helps support the occupants head against rolling
as a result of moving obliquely into engagement with the frontal
air bag 30. The central air bag 40 is a pillow shaped bag (PSB)
having an elongated configuration with a longitudinal axis 42 that
extends obliquely relative to the vehicle axis 18 in a direction
that is rearward and outboard to the passenger side 54 of the
vehicle 12. The central air bag 40 can be mounted to the instrument
panel 60, the steering column 62, or to other vehicle structure in
the vicinity of the instrument panel.
[0040] The central air bag 40 serves two primary purposes: to
support the passenger to reduce head twisting loads, and to support
the driver by providing a cushion to minimize head to instrument
panel contact.
[0041] To help reduce head twisting loads, the central air bag 40
can engage the inboard portion of the passenger frontal air bag 30
and can help serve as a central support for the passenger frontal
air bag. As the occupant 14 penetrates the frontal air bag 30,
portions of the frontal air bag displaced by the penetrating
occupant cause the central air bag 40 to arc around the side of the
head 14 to provide support for the head that acts against
rotation.
[0042] In the small overlap/oblique crash scenario, the occupant 14
moves in the direction A toward the inboard portion of the air bag
30. Since there is no lateral reaction surface against which the
air bag 30 can rest, the air bag tends to flatten out, allowing the
volume of the air bag to shift outboard in the vehicle. As shown in
FIG. 3, this results in a greater bag volume on the outboard side
of the occupant 14 and a lesser volume on the inboard side of the
occupant. This causes the forces acting on the occupant 14 to be
greater on the outboard side of the head and lesser on the inboard
side of the head. This inbalance causes the head 14 to rotate or
roll in the inboard direction (see FIG. 1) and can even cause the
head to roll off of the air bag.
[0043] The central air bag 40 provides support to the side of the
frontal air bag 30. In the case shown, it is on the inboard side.
The added pillow provides added support without adding a
significant amount erf volume. It acts like a kickstand on a bike
to prevent the bag from collapsing over. As shown in FIG. 3, as the
occupant 14 penetrates the bag, the inboard portion of the bag
collapses and the central air bag 40 arcs toward the back of the
occupant's head to counteract the tendency to rotate.
[0044] As an added feature, as shown in FIG. 4, the central air bag
40 can be long enough to reach the instrument panel 60 and/or
steering column 82 and to provide support to the central air bag 40
for helping to restrain the driver occupant 14. When the occupant
14 moves obliquely (arrow B) toward the steering wheel mounted
driver air bag 20 and central air bag 40, the central air bag can
help limit, reduce, or block inboard head rotation. Also, the
driver frontal air bag 30, having the steering wheel as a reaction
surface, and the central air bag 40, having the instrument panel
60, steering column 82, and the passenger frontal air bag 30 as a
reaction surface or support, can help absorb impact forces of the
penetrating occupant 14.
[0045] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that principles
similar to those described above in relation to the central air bag
40 can be implemented to help account for crash scenarios where the
occupant moves in an obliquely outboard direction (not shown). For
this scenario, the vehicle safety system 10 can include an outboard
air bag (not shown) similar to the central air bag 40, but placed
outboard of the passenger frontal air bag 30 adjacent the side
structure 16 of the vehicle 12. The outboard air bag can extend
obliquely rearward and inboard in the vehicle, in a manner somewhat
equal and opposite the central air bag. This outboard air bag can
react with the frontal air bag 30 in the same or similar manner as
the central air bag 40 to help block head rotation due to oblique
occupant air bag penetration. Similar results can be obtained by
placing an outboard air bag on the driver side of the vehicle.
* * * * *